IEP Chandigarh, February 20
Haryana Governor while delivering his address on the first day of Budget Session of the 14th Haryana Vidhan Sabha which commenced here today said that the State is striving for the socio-economic and educational upliftment of the SC and BC ClassesSh. Bandaru Dattatraya informed that till end of December 2022, an amount of Rs 116 crore has been released for marriage assistance to Widow/Divorced/Destitute/Orphan and destitute children living below poverty line.An amount of Rs 23.88 crore has been spent on scholarships to 27,270 students. An amount of Rs 71.59 crore has been provided to 8,838 house repair beneficiaries, further informed the Governor.He shared that the issuance of Scheduled Caste (SC) certificates in a pro-active manner commenced in April 2022 followed by issuance of Backward Class and Income Certificates in August 2022.“Till January 2023, 3.63 lakh SC certificates, 1.86 lakh BC certificates and 2.34 lakh income certificates have been issued pro-actively without the applicant having to visit any government office,” he shared.He said that the vulnerable sections of the society viz. senior citizens, widows and destitute women, persons with disabilities, eunuchs, destitute children, parents with only girl child, non-school going Divyang children and Kashmiri migrants are assisted with pensions and financial assistance.In addition to this, Grant-in-Aid is also being provided by State and Central Government to Voluntary Organizations working in the field of Disability Welfare, Senior Citizens Welfare and drug de-addiction, shared Sh. Bandaru Dattatraya.Reservation in promotions for SC employeesThe Governor further informed that the Government has recently announced providing reservation in promotion to employees belonging to Scheduled Castes in a fixed and time bound manner.To implement this decision in consonance with the Apex Court judgements, and to assess the cadre-wise deficiency of SC employees in different departments, the Rationalization Commission is being entrusted with the task. SEWA (Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of SC/BC and Antyodaya) Department will be providing all assistance to the Commission, and the assessment of deficiency will pave the way for reservation in promotion in Group A, B, C and D posts, shared Sh. Bandaru Dattatraya.Financial assistance of Rs 482 crore disbursed for construction housesThe Governor said that under Beneficiary-Led-Construction (BLC) vertical of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), 28,572 Economically Weaker Section (EWS) beneficiaries have been provided financial assistance of Rs 482 crore for construction of their houses.Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), against the total target of 29,711 houses, 28,837 houses have been sanctioned out of which, 21,932 houses have been completed, informed Sh. Bandaru Dattatraya.State Government is running numerous welfare schemes for Defense PersonnelThe Governor said that the State Government is committed to the welfare of the Defence Personnel, ex-Defence Personnel, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) as well as their families.“In recognition of their service to the nation and the supreme sacrifices made by them, State Government is running numerous schemes like grant of financial assistance to Ex- Servicemen (ESM), war widows and widows; grant of government jobs and ex-gratia amount of Rs 50 lakh to the Next of Kin of Battle Casualties; grant of cash awards to Gallantry and Distinguished Award Winners; marriage grants for daughters; grant of cash awards to the newly commissioned officers from Haryana, and timely redressal of grievances,” added Sh. Bandaru Dattatraya.He shared that the department concerned will shall initiate construction of Integrated Sainik Sadans in 7 districts. 1,821 Agniveers have been recruited from Haryana The Governor further informed that during Agniveer recruitment rallies at Hisar, Ambala, Charkhi Dadri and Rohtak, 1,821 Agniveers have been recruited from Haryana.With a view to contributing more officers and men to the armed forces, the Government will set up two Armed Forces Preparatory Institutes at a cost of Rs 20 crore each, shared the Governor.